Comments

Thanks so much for your blog. I've been crocheting for over 20 years, but I still enjoy your basic help. I am learning some handy tricks and helpful info. Also, when I encounter folks wanting to learn to crochet I point them to your blog. You may be interested in a weekly round up I do at my blog called Mother Hen's Homemade Thursday. It's not just crochet, but any homemade item. This week I featured my crocheted dish cloths.

Harold2,You are welcome. There is not much information listed pertaining to the term or origin of worsted yarn. It is commonly used with 4-ply yarn. Some companies do not use the term at all. It does create a lot of confusion at time.

I love reading your blog and have learned so much from it. I have made quite a few things in the past month that I have been reading.I recently made up my first washcloth pattern and posted it on my blog. Even if no one reads it, atleast it's somewhere I can remember how to do it! lol. Thanks again for all you do to help us learn new things about crochet! Seriously, I had no idea about the term "Worsted"!

Thanks for always teaching me something new.I have learned so much from you blog and I will always come back to do some projects and get informed by all new comment and suggestions you may have.Thank You very much.Blessings ! ,

Teresa, you are right of course, but there are additional meanings to "worsted weight" that pertain to a yarn's thickness, weight and gauge. It doesn't really refer to actual weight, as some fibers may weigh more than others, nor does it refer just to plies, as some very bulky yarns may only be one ply, while fine thread yarns may have 6 to 8 plies.

Generally, worsted weight today is known as gauge 4, between aran/dk 3 and bulky/chunky weight 5. Many new yarns have a number circled on the yarn band.

The reason for this newish rating system is to help crocheters and knitters substitute and chose yarn that will work up into a similar gauge for a pattern. For example, #4 Worsted yarns generally use a size I or K hook [5.5 to 6.5 mm].

Of course, there are variations, but this is the general classification.

Anonymous,I appreciate this information. There is very little written about worsted weight yarn. The meaning of worsted weight is one of the biggest questions that I get all of the time. Now I will have more of a detailed answer to offer in the future.

Extended or Long Double Crochet - This is where you will work a double crochet several stitches below the row you are on. You will need to pull up on the stitch and allow for some additional yarn, so the stitch does not sag.

Multiple: 4
You will add 4 chains for each segment of the pattern stitch that you want to add to the width.

Example: If you want to make a baby afghan with a size I/5.5mm crochet hook, 4-ply yarn, you will chain 108. This will give you an estimated width of 34 inches.

Ch 31Row 1: DC in 3rd CH from hook, DC in next CH, *CH 1, SK 1 CH, 1 DC in EA of next 3 CH. Continue across from * for width of pattern.

Drop Stitch - The drop stitch will be worked below the two previous row of shell stitches. Wrap the yarn over the hook, insert the hook 2 rows below, between the shell stitches, pull the yarn up. Repeat one more time for a total of 5 loops on the hook.

Row 1: DC in the 4th CH from the hook, DC in the next CH, Skip 4 chains, in the next CH(5th chain) work *2DC, CH1, 2DC, SK 4 CH's, Repeat from * across for the width, 1 DC in ea of the last 2 chains.

Row 2: CH 2, DC in the next DC, work *2DC, CH1, 2DC in the next CH 1 Space. Repeat from * across for the width, 1 DC in ea of the last 2 DC.